Scott Koegler
Gone are the days of pulling into the next gas station to ask for directions, most of which turned out to be wrong anyhow. For a few hundred dollars, you can avoid hours of frustration, not to mention recriminations from your significant other about poor planning or not stopping to ask for directions.
GPS devices are getting better and more agile every day. This particularly applies to units like the Dash Express that maintain a real-time Internet connection to a central database. By aggregating real-time data from your fellow road-mates, the system can alert you to traffic conditions that changed only moments ago and offer to route you around the problems. It connects via Wi-Fi or cellular services, depending on what's available at the moment.
A similar, if not quite as instant, device is TomTom's new GO 930. TomTom's approach also aggregates information, but in this case, it's historical information taken anonymously from TomTom users when they update their units online. TomTom's Advanced Lane Guidance adds to the mix by identifying special circumstances, like expressway exits on the left, rather than on the right, and warning you to change to the appropriate lane. The unit also accepts voice address input and connects via Bluetooth to your cell phone for voice dialing.
Pioneer's AVIC-F90BT combines advanced navigation features with in-car entertainment. It is an in-dash system that connects to and manages a wide variety of entertainment devices via Bluetooth, USB, and SD memory. Connect your iPod, XM, or Sirius satellite radio, play CD and DVD video, and command the system with voice commands.
The system is intelligent enough to pick out commands from casual conversation so you don't need to speak in predefined phrases. The 5.8" WVGA LCD monitor is touch sensitive, and the color scheme is configurable to your taste. And if the base unit doesn't have all the components you want, you can connect entertainment devices through the unit's A/V input and a backup camera to the system's camera port.
Radar Detectors
While radar detectors have been around for many years, they are not all the same. Most have the ability to sense law enforcement radar from different distances. That's useful, but they may not be able to tell you whether there's one behind you, in front, or to the side. Even less useful is the radar detector that buzzes every time you pass your local supermarket, triggered by the automatic doors. In this case, you won't know that there's also a police unit sitting in the parking lot scanning you.
The Valentine One Radar Locator with Laser Warning covers all these eventualities and more. But of course, the best way to deal with law enforcement radar is to stay below the speed limit. Save not only on speeding tickets, but your gasoline bill, as well.
Summer unofficially starts this weekend, and with it, the driving season. Forget about the price of gas for now. Even if your summer travel plans are abbreviated, you'll likely still be driving somewhere. We've gathered up some mobile gear that will transform hot schleps down the highway into joy rides.
Bluetooth
A growing number of states are enforcing hands-free initiatives when it comes to using cell phones while driving. Fortunately Bluetooth headphones have been around for a while and can be used to comply with these laws. However, there are also a growing number of products that connect your cell phone to your car's audio system, removing you from any physical contact with the phone, or even an earpiece.
Motorola's MOTOROKR T505 clips to your car's visor and uses both Bluetooth and FM to connect your cell phone to your car's speakers. The unit's built-in microphone takes over for the one on your phone. The T505 can also connect your compatible MP3 player (one equipped with Bluetooth) to play through your car's sound system.
Mobile Internet
One of the more active segments of the mobile communications market is full Internet access on the go. Sprint's Novatel Ovation U727 cellular USB card connects directly to your laptop's USB port and delivers (depending on coverage) broadband connectivity over EVDO-A. It also includes GPS, so you can run applications like Google Earth in real time, showing your location.
But now that everybody has their own Internet-connected laptops, Wi-Fi enabled multimedia players, and Skype phones, they all want to get online. nexAira's NexConnect 3G Wireless Broadband Router can handle both USB and PCMCIA Type II cellular modems. The unit comes with both a 12-volt adapter for the car and a 120-volt wall wart for the hotel, beach house, or campground. Plug your cell card into the router, turn it on, and everyone in the car can be online at the same time. Of course, cellular coverage being what it is, you may want to have multiple contracts and carry more than one modem. When you're out of range of carrier A, just swap out the modem for carrier B, and (if you're in range for carrier B) you're back online.
Autonet Mobile takes all the guesswork out of in-car Wi-Fi. The company is working with car manufacturers to offer its system as an option in new cars, and it is now available as a rental car add-on through Avis. Autonet Mobile handles the carrier connections for you, automatically switching to the most appropriate carrier for your location. The company monitors signal quality and takes care of keeping you connected wherever there is a signal to be had.
See original article on InformationWeek
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